Digital Movie Library on the Road

[Magnatudes]

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

I use a Raspberry Pi as my server with a 2 TB USB hard drive attached to it. I currently have over 700 movies stored on it and I run Kodi. You could also run a Plex Server on a Raspberry Pi. In my old trailer, I had a 12 VDC TV, so I added a 5 amp USB power supply that ran off 12 VDC so I could use both the TV and Raspberry Pi server on battery power. My current trailer has a 110 VAC TV so my Raspberry Pi power supply is plugged into the same outlet as the TV.

You can use the master Raspberry Pi with the USB drive attached to it to create an ad hoc WiFi network. Then all you need for your other TVs are smart TVs that will connect to the Raspberry Pi server. Or just a Raspberry Pi client for regular TVs. I can also connect my phone, tablet and computer to my Raspberry Pi server and watch movies on those devices.

[Rancher Rob]

Has anyone tried using an Amazon Fire Stick offline? I’ve got one on order to see if I can cast the downloaded amazon movies on my phone & ipad to the fire stick w/o having an internet connection. Seems like an easy solution if not as cool. And flexible as the synology/nas. Alternatively, is there a way to rip the downloaded amazon prime movies to the Synology server? I thought the amazon down loads were in like a proprietary format. Or am I wrong on that?

[toshu]

My new 2021 30FW has Insignia TVs with Fire TV built in. I installed a Chromecast device into the Matrix so I could share what is cased to any on the 3 Insignia TVs.
So far in testing it works fine at home where I am tethered to my home wifi via the Winegard 2.0. I can cast from my phone and see and hear it on my TV...however, if the Winegard isnt connected to a Wifi network....then I cant Cast at all.
So far I haven't found a way around this....but I am sure there is and this is an easy way yo share content.

I also connected a 2 TB HDD to the Insignia TV..... couldnt access any of the files....they dont show up.
There is a option in TV "source" tp select a "Media Player" but nothing shows up and there is nothing online that discusses this option as a source. If any one has further information I would appreciate it.

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by toshu

I also connected a 2 TB HDD to the Insignia TV..... couldnt access any of the files....they dont show up.
There is a option in TV "source" tp select a "Media Player" but nothing shows up and there is nothing online that discusses this option as a source. If any one has further information I would appreciate it.

The TV probably requires an MBR partition hard drive with FAT32. Your hard drive may be GPT partitioned and probably NTFS.

[toshu]

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

The TV probably requires an MBR partition hard drive with FAT32. Your hard drive may be GPT partitioned and probably NTFS.

Probably, but I was hoping it was like my 6 year old Samsung that could handle a HDD directly

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by toshu

Probably, but I was hoping it was like my 6 year old Samsung that could handle a HDD directly

Most Smart TVs can handle a hard drive directly, but they are quite small by today’s standards. They are bigger than a Stick (32gig) but our bedroom LG has a small footprint 1T USB hard drive velcro’d to the back. It needs no other power supply so we just load up a bunch of snuggle movies to it before we leave on a trip.


Herk

[Thor 37gt]

We use a apple dongle.

[toshu]

On an Insignia tv?

Originally Posted by Thor 37gt

We use a apple dongle.

[Rancher Rob]

I spent a couple hours tonight with my phone and a firestick and couldn't get Amazon Prime Video (APV) to cast from phone to firestick nor mirror to the TV nor firestick. APV, when casting from phone to firestick just tells the firestick to stream from the internet the same show where time indexed to where your playing it on your phone. No good w/o internet.

Mirroring seemed to almost work. I can get the audio of the movie playing on the TV and when paused, the screen mirrors Xray and controls and text to tv. but not the freakin video, just the audio.

I may have to assign this to my 17yr old I'll just tell him he can take the topless/doorless jeep out cruising if he gets it to work.

[Thor 37gt]

Originally Posted by toshu

On an Insignia tv?

Yes we just used it for 3 weeks. 120v and hdmi is all you need.

[toshu]

Originally Posted by Thor 37gt

Yes we just used it for 3 weeks. 120v and hdmi is all you need.

Can you share a link to the exact Apple dongle you used?? also, I am an Android person and wonder if I can cast to it via an Android phone??

[Phreak480]

I stream from android and windows devices to my ROKU devices pretty successfully. Haven't tried it yet on a network with no internet though.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by toshu

On an Insignia tv?

The TV must be "SMART"; that means it has a computer inside that can decode video format files (like MOV or MP4); NOT just photos like JPG or music like MP3.

[Phreak480]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

The TV must be "SMART"; that means it has a computer inside that can decode video format files (like MOV or MP4); NOT just photos like JPG or music like MP3.

No need for a smart TV if using something like an APPLE TV, ROKU, Fire Stick. Those devices have their own "smarts" and the TV just needs appropriate input ports to match up to it.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Phreak480

No need for a smart TV if using something like an APPLE TV, ROKU, Fire Stick. Those devices have their own "smarts" and the TV just needs appropriate input ports to match up to it.

Gotcha

[Electra glide]

I mirror from my Note 9 to my ROKU tv in the camper but it sometimes lags and then I also can't use the phone for anything else. I'm always looking for a way to have a few movies in case it's raining or something. Simple works for me if I can ever figure out what simple is.

[toshu]

I just figured out how to Cast to my Chromecast from my Android phone when there is no internet availability. You need to go into your Home app, and set the Chromecast up to allow GUEST mode. From there you can cast directly.

[Thor 37gt]

Originally Posted by toshu

Can you share a link to the exact Apple dongle you used?? also, I am an Android person and wonder if I can cast to it via an Android phone??

Apple dongle

[Delco Bobby]

This appears to be what I have been using for a few months. It is an Apple product, HDMI to lightening connector. It works flawlessly with no hassle or setup.
Mirrors my Apple devices.

I use a long HDMI cable connected to the TV on one end and the adapter on the other end. Then plug it into the lightening connector on iPhone or iPad.

It has a USB port for power but I don’t need it.

Downside is it is not wireless.

Upside, no additional gizmos and connection hassles.
Mirrors your screen and the interface is the same as on you device.
Eliminated the buffering I was experiencing.
Saved me much hassle and grief.

I use this with my Sharp Aquos and my Samsung. Neither is a recent TV.

Coincidentally I am ordering a second one tonight for the RV. $41.98 on Amazon. There are less expensive versions not by Apple but I have read unfavorable reviews.

I don’t know why but I didn’t see this on the Apple web site.

I use a 25 foot HDMI cable in my living room, no problems.

[Thor 37gt]

I bought mine on Amazon a few years back. We use it all the time at home and when we travel. Very simple.